The first two lines were inspired by doodling on the paper,
夜臨玉露初甦醒
西畔銀河始漸升
However, two days later, while strolling in the Wilmington Park...
1 紫霞更紅晚來急 As night approacheth in urgency, purple clouds became more fiery,
2 玉露初降沾花濕 And blossoms are tainted fresh by the descending dew.
3 暗香遲疑豈願散 How is it still lingering? Still hesitating? And unwilling to disperse,
4 隕世流星銀河泣 Leaving their realm, the Milky Way weeps for its falling stars.
1 Due to the angle of the setting sun, clouds seem brighter as night encroaches. Of course, in doing so, it also destroys them.
2 玉 here means white, like the color of mutton fat, the traditional favorite color for jade. Only in the very late Ch'ing Dynasty that green became the favored color due to the taste of the Empress Dowager.
“falling star” is a poetic term for meteorite and so is 流星 for 隕星.
隕世 means “to leave the world”. In the context of the poem, the world refers to the celestial realm. Meteor showers are like tears shed from heaven.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
1 Due to the angle of the setting sun, clouds seem brighter as night encroaches. Of course, in doing so, it also destroys them.
2 玉 here means white, like the color of mutton fat, the traditional favorite color for jade. Only in the very late Ch'ing Dynasty that green became the favored color due to the taste of the Empress Dowager.
Moisture weakens the scent of flowers.
4 隕 means “to descend”, “to decay”. A variant form is 隕 is 殞 - to die. 隕石is a stone falling from the sky, hence a meteorite.
4 隕 means “to descend”, “to decay”. A variant form is 隕 is 殞 - to die. 隕石is a stone falling from the sky, hence a meteorite.
“falling star” is a poetic term for meteorite and so is 流星 for 隕星.
隕世 means “to leave the world”. In the context of the poem, the world refers to the celestial realm. Meteor showers are like tears shed from heaven.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
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